Chapter Eight – Rollon
Eva turned so her back was against the wall, her knife still at Tindra's throat. The human trembled, her eyes wide, and Rollon tried not to look at her. To see her fear now would only make him act rashly. He needed to remain in control of the situation. His silver blade weighed down his hand, blood dripping from its end. He'd had to fight through a dozen shifters to get here.
Rollon pushed his thoughts from his mind. His feet were unsteady so he planted them, watching Eva closely. She'd be dead already if it weren’t for the closeness of Tindra's body to hers. He couldn't strike without hurting his son's chosen one.
His sister's nostrils flared. "I can smell your blood, brother. You've been wounded. Badly, I think. See the way your king's hand trembles, human? He can't save you."
"Let the human go," Rollon rumbled. "If your quarrel is with me, then you have nothing to gain by harming my son's companion."
Thor shifted to one side and Eva tightened her grip on Tindra. "I think not. The human will give me a safe passage from your palace."
Rollon snarled under his breath. He stepped forward, raising his blade. "You came to test my resolve. You wanted to see what the human was worth to me, didn't you? That or . . . " He glanced at the door, where he could hear Ingrid shouting. "Did you really think she would go back to you after the way you hurt her?"
Footsteps sounded behind him. He was just able to turn around before a silver-colored bear was on him. Sharp teeth tore through his arm as he raised his sword. Thor shouted and Tindra screamed. Rollon dropped the sword, catching it with his other hand, and skewered the beast through its sternum. It didn't slow, using its bulk to knock him to the floor. Teeth and claws came at him. He twisted the sword and rolled, narrowly missing being crushed. Thor faced off with a large black wolf as Eva dragged Tindra away.
Rollon didn't hesitate. He threw himself on top of the wolf, wrapping his good arm around its neck and hauling it back.
"Go!" he shouted at his son.
The bear lumbered at them but fell. Thor raced off down the hallway after Eva. Rollon tightened his grip around the wolf's neck. They would not get to his son. His sword was pinned under the bear's body, but that didn't mean he couldn't fight. The wolf threw him off, his savaged arm flopping around. The wolf jumped on him. Its claws tore through his cotton shirt, the jaws snapping at his face. He warded it off with one hand, the mauled one patting uselessly at his pocket. With a shout, Rollon rolled his legs up to his chest. He kicked them out, knocking the wolf away, and grabbed the small knife he always carried with him.
"Let's get this done," he mumbled, not sounding as fierce as he had hoped.
His head throbbed. His fangs were lengthening, needing blood. His legs trembled as he got to his feet. The wolf's tail swished this way and that as it hunched close to the ground, growling. Yellow eyes shone from its face. It wove back and forth as it looked for an opening. Rollon kept his grip steady on the knife.
There was a yell of pain up the corridor. Thor. Rollon's head turned a fraction of an inch. The wolf lunged. He thrust the dagger forward as he sidestepped. The blade sliced over the wolf's ribcage. A howl echoed, and it turned once more. Teeth snapped at his face, and then the wolf was gone, running back the way it had come.
Rollon didn't bother wasting time chasing after it. His blood splattered the ground as he dragged himself toward the sound of his son's voice. Cotton felt stuffed into his ears and his head spun.
Footsteps, and then Tindra rounded the corner. Her eyes widened and she rushed to him, throwing her arms around his waist to support him. Her full-bodied scent hit him hard and he snarled, grabbing her wrist. He could almost taste the blood running below the surface as he slammed her against the wall.
Wide, frightened eyes met his. Rollon kept his grip tight, the need for blood almost painful. His chest heaved against hers. It would take more strength than he had to tear himself away. His head dropped, tongue flicking over her pulse. In his state, he would drain her dry . . .
Thor's voice came from somewhere in the distance. Rollon ignored it. Two small hands pressed to his chest.
"Stop." A breathless whisper, but no fear. "Thor needs you."
The king pulled back. Wide eyes. Not frightened as he had first thought. No, the fear was all his. He pulled back from the human. Another step. His grip on her released and he stumbled away, panting. She didn’t even know how close he had come to . . .
Without a word, he turned. Renewed determination seized him and he pushed himself as fast as he could. Thor soon came into view, fighting a clawed, half-shifted beast. Rollon threw himself on the animal, tearing into it with tooth and blade. It howled and threw him off. Thor's blade flashed. The creature fell. Rollon snarled and stepped in the direction of Eva’s smell, but a sharp pain bit into his side. He glanced down to see a silver blade protruding from his abdomen.
"Dad!" Thor caught him as he fell. He yanked out the blade and threw it away. "Dad, hold on. It's not that bad. You just need blood."
The dizziness from before was returning. "Blood . . . " he moaned.
"Pure blood."
Human blood. His mouth watered even as a snarl ripped from him. "No. I'd kill her."
"Let's get up." Thor heaved him to his feet and started walking him down the corridor. "Some bagged blood to take the edge off, but you need it fresh from the vein to fully recover."
"I'd kill her," Rollon repeated.
Thor shook his head. "No, you won't. Especially not after you've had a bag."
Rollon sagged against him, eyes fluttering. "No. I can't. She's yours."
"Dad, I don't know how to tell you this, but you're an idiot."
A smirk and chuckle. "Why do you say that?"
Thor grunted with the effort to keep him moving forward. "Because she was never mine. I chose her, but I chose her for you. I've been dropping hints like crazy. I want you to let Mom go and find someone else to love. I thought Tindra was perfect for you. Her smell, her clumsiness when it comes to royalty. You need someone who will tell you what they think, and she can do that."
"Yeah, she does. Her face gets so red . . . " Rollon shook his head. "You're just saying that because—"
"I'm not. I've never shown any interest in women because I'm not interested in women. Or men. I don't want all that sexy, romantic crap. I am perfectly happy on my own." Thor adjusted him, then flung him over his shoulders and began to run.
Not interested in any of it? Rollon frowned as his mind wove in and out of consciousness. Who wouldn't be interested in that delectable human? His mouth watered and his fangs throbbed. One small taste wouldn't hurt. Even if Thor was lying to him.
***
After a couple bags of human blood, Rollon felt much revived. The all-consuming need to feed was gone, leaving him feeling weak in its wake. Thor said that Tindra had agreed to give him what he needed from here, and Rollon insisted that she be brought to his chambers. He wanted to do this right. The steam from the shower eased the ache in his lungs. Human blood fresh from the vein was potent. It wouldn't take much to heal him. He would take what he needed, no more, and send her away.
"Rollon?" The door to his large shower opened and Tindra stepped in.
She was utterly naked. Just the sight of her had him stiffening. She might not be as curvy as the vampires he usually lay with, but she was all woman. Bite-sized breasts, toned abs, muscular thighs, and those big, beautiful eyes. He swallowed as her scent enveloped him. If he drank from her, it wouldn't end there.
"I'll manage," he rasped out. His voice was deeper, huskier. "You don't have to be here."
Tindra shook her head. "No. You're going to drink from me and heal."
His gaze ran down her body and he cursed. "I can't . . . I won't be able to stop myself."
Why had she come in here naked? A tortured noise pulled from his throat as she moved even closer.
"It's okay. You yourself told me that it can be very sexy if the attraction already exists. I think we both know that I am highly attracted to you. And I'm not just doing it because I think I have to. There is any number of women who would be more than willing to let you drink from them. I know it doesn't have to be me. But when I think about you touching anybody else . . . " A scowl crossed her face. "I want to punch them in the face."
He grasped her waist. The hot water splattered between them, her skin so soft under the moisture. With one movement he turned her against the glass. "If you tell me to stop, I will make myself stop."
Her body arched against his, making him moan. Was she even aware of what she was doing? His head dropped to her neck, where her scent was the strongest, and his lips sought out her pulse.